"Five minutes later - true story - he says, 'Sir, we're completely out of staples. Will paper clips do?' "

Telling the story months later, Staples joked, "God has a way of keeping you humble."

The tale has not-so-funny implications for Staples in his tough GOP primary race against incumbent Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, firebrand Sen. Dan Patrick of Houston and plainspoken Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson.

Youngest of the four at age 50, Staples must define himself in the face of two colorful foes and a third who long has held the job he wants.

"Staples' profile kind of defines him as an establishment guy. Dewhurst needed to falter more for him to really fully occupy that space," said Jim Henson, who directs the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin. "On the other side, both Patterson and certainly Dan Patrick have a lot more natural appeal as outsiders."

Henson pointed out, however, that Staples still has time before the March 4 primary. Staples suggested he cannot be counted out, saying Texans see his conservative credentials.

"I think I am who most Texans are: hardworking taxpayers that will tell the truth and want accountability in government," Staples said.

An East Texas native who says he starts his day with the Bible, Staples grew up working on a farm, graduated from Texas A&M and went into the real estate appraisal and brokerage business. He had a cow-calf operation with his father and helped start a family plant nursery.

His first marriage ended in divorce; he and his current wife, Janet, each brought two children, now grown, into the marriage.

Against gay marriage

Staples said he plunged into public office reluctantly with a run for Palestine City Council at the urging of a high school teacher. He said his "no thanks" changed to "yes, sir" when a former teacher told him, "'We gave to you. It's time for you to give back.'"

Staples later served in the state House and then the Senate, where he points out he championed worker's compensation reform and a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman. He said the combo shows he is "a conservative who will not compromise what my values are but that I can also deliver on key business issues."

Staples has no second thoughts on same-sex marriage despite a move nationally to recognize the unions.

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Staples' record also provides targets for his GOP opponents, including his vote to allow certain immigrants who came here illegally to qualify for in-state college tuition.

The law has become a flash point for the most conservative Republicans. Staples now urges its repeal, saying the measure "was predicated upon those individuals correcting their status, and it was based on the assumption that our federal government would secure our border. Neither one of those criteria has been enforced."

Staples took a leadership role in the 2003 fight over congressional redistricting when another GOP senator abandoned the effort. With Dewhurst presiding as lieutenant governor, Staples shepherded a plan driven by Republicans, including then-U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, to diminish Democratic strength.

"He was extremely well-grounded and knew how to handle himself in a high-pressure situation," said GOP strategist Dave Beckwith, who then worked for Dewhurst.

Democratic strategist Matt Angle, who was in the thick of that fray, scoffed, "The only thing he gets credit for is being willing to be Tom DeLay's lackey and do his dirty work."

Former state Sen. Bill Ratliff, describing himself a moderate conservative, disagreed "strenuously" with Staples on redistricting. He said the plan relegated his northeast Texas area to having Dallas-Fort Worth representatives in the interest of creating more GOP seats. Still, Ratliff spoke highly of Staples, calling him workmanlike and thoughtful.

Agriculture chief

When Staples stepped up to a statewide platform with his election as state agriculture commissioner, his campaign says he was the first in the post to place a major focus on border security, a key issue in the GOP primary. Staples said he did so due to landowners' concerns about "being chased off their property by violent and treacherous drug cartel members."

Staples launched a website, commissioned a study, wrote a book and supported a law enforcement program using cameras on the border.

Michael Bennett, a longtime Staples friend, recalled his work on a different topic, when Staples stood against the movement of Canadian cattle to Mexico through state facilities because U.S. cattle exports were being stymied.

"He's got that kind of backbone," Bennett said. "He called me and he said, 'Hey, would you please be praying for me because I'm fixing to do something really tough.' "

Bennett said that was not the only time he has been asked for prayers by Staples. He said he once asked Staples, when a foe "was really trying to dig up dirt on him" in a legislative race, why he put himself through the process.

"He said, 'Michael, I feel like I've been called to do this, just like a preacher's called to preach,' " he said. " 'I feel like God's called me to represent the people.' "